The death toll in the collapse of a three-storey house at Zakir Nagar, Meerut has risen to 10 while the rescue work at the site is still underway, the district administration said on Sunday (September 15, 2024).
District Magistrate Deepak Meena said a process was underway to provide financial assistance of ₹4 lakh for each deceased from the natural calamity fund and ₹1.20 lakh for the house being completely damaged.
Action was also being taken to provide financial assistance to the affected family for the animals that died in the incident, he said.
The Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress expressed sorrow over the house collapse and demanded that the government provide proper compensation to the affected family.
List of deceased
Meanwhile, the district administration released a new list of the deceased on Sunday (September 15, 2024) afternoon. According to it, those who died in the incident have been identified as Naffo alias Nafias (65), her son Sajid (40), Saima (35) wife of Sajid; Sania (15) (Sajid's daughter), Saqib (12) (Sajid's son); Farhana (27), Alisa (25), Ria (10), Himsa (6 months) and Saifiyan (7).
Those who survived are Samrin (4), Naeem (22), Nadeem (26), Saqib (20) and Aliya (8), the district administration said, adding they were undergoing medical treatment.
The three-storey house collapsed on Saturday (September 15, 2024) afternoon, trapping 15 people under the debris.
"When the rescue operation started, the relatives gave information about 15 people. Three managed to escape when the building was collapsing," the district magistrate told reporters.
"The death toll stands at 10 while five persons are alive. The rescue operations will continue till the entire debris is removed," the officer said.
"The bodies have been kept at the medical college and a post-mortem examination is being conducted," he said.
Senior officials, including Meerut Zone Additional Director General of Police D.K. Thakur, Divisional Commissioner Selva Kumari J, Inspector General of Police Nachiketa Jha and Senior Superintendent of Police Vipin Tada reached the spot to monitor the rescue operation.
The National Disaster Response Force, fire brigade and police teams are engaged in the rescue operation.
The Samajwadi Party, in a post in Hindi on X, said, "Ten people died after being buried under the rubble when a three-storey building collapsed in Meerut. Very sad! May God give peace to the departed souls. Wishing the injured a speedy recovery. The government should give proper compensation to the victim families!"
The Congress' Uttar Pradesh unit too took to X to express sadness over the deaths in the incident. "We pray for peace to all deceased. We request the State government to provide adequate compensation to the families of the deceased and arrange for free, proper treatment for the people injured in the incident," it said.
Published - September 15, 2024 08:55 am IST
